Warning: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that this article contains the name and image of a deceased Indigenous person.
South Sydney players will wear black armbands in Sunday's match against Newcastle in honour of 2014 premiership winning forward Kyle Turner.
The Rabbitohs will also retire the No.15 jersey that Turner wore in the historic grand final triumph for the match as a tribute to Turner, who passed away on Friday, aged 31.
Turner, who was Rabbitohs first grade player number 1100, played 130 grade games with the club, including 91 first grade games, between 2011 and 2019.
Rabbitohs CEO Blake Solly said Turner would be remembered as a gentle giant with an infectious smile who was a crowd favourite, as evidenced by his award as The Burrow Player of the Year in 2016.
“Kyle was an amazing human being,” Solly said. “He epitomised the country boy rugby league player. He was such a tough, uncompromising player on the field, yet a lovely, generous man off the field.
“Over his nine years with our club he contributed a lot of time to Souths Cares and was very popular amongst his teammates, colleagues, our Members and supporters alike.
“We offer our full support to his family and friends at this very difficult time, and he will always be remembered at our Club as a man that delivered a premiership to the Rabbitohs, but also a man that connected deeply with his communities.
“We will hold him close to our hearts for the rest of this season and in the years to come. Vale Kyle Turner.”
Panthers coach Ivan Cleary expressed condolences to Turner's family, friends and the South Sydney club at his post match press conference after Saturday night's win against Gold Coast.
Shocked former team-mates paid tribute to Turner on social media, including Adam Reynolds, Cameron Murray, Tom Burgess and Issac Luke.
A proud Kamilaroi man and Coonabarabran Unicorns junior, Turner joined the Rabbitohs in 2011, the year in which he won the Rabbitohs under 20s Player of the Year Award.
Turner won an NRL premiership in 2014, playing for South Sydney in the grand final victory against the Bulldogs to claim the club’s 21st premiership.
He represented the Indigenous All Stars on two occasions in 2015 and 2017, as well as Country Origin in 2017.
